The Verse of the Three Morsels of Food

The first morsel is to destroy all evils,

The second morsel is to practice all good deeds,

The third morsel is to save all sentient beings—

May all attain the Path of Buddhahood.

The Five Trainings

One of my students, Zachary John, recently received the gift of the Five Moral Precepts at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple. He posted his thoughts of his FaceBook page. With his permission, I am sharing his wise words.

Earlier this week, I accepted the Five Precepts at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple and was given the name Xíngdòng Su which means "unadorned (Su) action (Xíngdòng)". For about 6 months I have been meeting weekly with others to study the Five Precepts at the GR Buddhist Temple under the guidance of ordained monks, other preceptors, and the Sangha as a whole. I wanted to share some information about this.

The Five Precepts are as follows (and for a lengthier explanation please read Thich Nhat Hanh's expansion on these "5 Mindfulness Trainings" as he calls them):

1. To protect and respect life.
2. To protect and respect the property of others.
3. To protect and respect the truth.
4. To protect and respect sexual/personal boundaries.
5. To protect and respect oneself.

The Five Precepts are not commandments, they are guidelines, as a means to live a more peaceful life. A life more in-tune with the peaceful and compassionate nature of humans and this universe as a whole. They are not meant to be followed blindly or seen as black-white rules, but as a way to utilize compassion and wisdom to guide your actions, thoughts, and interactions with yourself and the world.

Taking the Five Precepts is not a requirement to practice Buddhism, heck, identifying as a Buddhist is not a requirement to practice Buddhism. I believe there are countless beings who live lives of compassion and wisdom who have never heard of the Buddha. I think of Jesus, Ghandi, St. Francis, Mother Theresa, and so many other less known teachers and practitioners of compassion and wisdom.

Taking the Five Precepts and taking a Dharma Name is to me a way to publicly state my goal of helping and caring for others, myself, and this universe. I will surely flounder often, but I am appreciative of all the challenges I face and hope I learn from the mistakes I make.

The intention of this post is to explain the inclusion of my Dharma Name in my public profile, and as well to further publicize my commitment to practicing the way of compassion and wisdom. I ask that as my friends and family you question and challenge me in my endeavors to help me along this way, I will surely need it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Hugs + smiles,
Xíngdòng Su

The Three Jewels

The Buddha = The Teacher

The Dharma = The Teaching

The Sangha = The Students of the Buddha and the Dharma

The Three Refuges

I take my refuge in the Buddha.

I take my refuge in the Dharma.

I take my refuge in the Sangha.

For the second time, I take my refuge in the Buddha.

For the second time, I take my refuge in the Dharma.

For the second time, I take my refuge in the Sangha.

For the third time, I take my refuge in the Buddha.

For the third time, I take my refuge in the Dharma.

For the third time I take my refuge in the Sangha,

We repeat the refuges three times in the hope that at least one of those times we will be mindful

 and pay attention to the words we are saying.

Taking refuge in the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha) does not mean a person is asking the Buddha or the Dharma or the Sangha to protect them or to solve their problems or to give them material things. Taking refuge in the Three Jewels means a person looks to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha as an example and for guidance.

In the end, each person makes their own choices and lives with the consequences of those choices.

No magic, no miracles—instead Ethics, Wisdom, and Mindfulness.

Happiness in the Present Moment

The past has already gone,
and the future has not yet come.
Let us not drown ourselves
in regret for what has passed
or in expectations and worry for the future.
The Buddha has said that we can
be peaceful, happy, and free
in this present moment.
Let us hear the Buddha's words
and let go of our sadness and anxiety.
Let us come back to ourselves 
and establish ourselves in what is present right now.
Let us learn to recognize
the conditions for happiness
that are present within us
and around us.

                          Daily Practice, Exercises and Recitations, 
                          Chanting from the Heart, Plum Village

From the 'Fire Ceremony'

With the torch of wisdom, we leave behind the forest of confusion.
With determination, we learn, reflect, and practice.
Appropriate View is the ground of our actions, in body, speech, and mind.
Appropriate Mindfulness embraces us, walking, standing, lying down, sitting,
speaking, smiling, coming in, and going out.
Whenever anger or anxiety enter our hearts, we are determined to breathe
mindfully and come back to ourselves.
With every step we take we will walk in the Pure Land.
May our heart's garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers.
May we bring the feelings of peace and joy into every household.
May we plant wholesome seeds on the ten thousand paths.
May we never have the need to leave the Sangha body.
May we never attempt to escape the sufferings of the world, always being
present whenever beings need our help.

The Example of Sadaparibhuta

I look to your example, Sadaparibhuta. I aspire to learn your way of never disparaging or underestimating any living being. With great respect, you say to all you meet, “You are someone of great value. You have Buddha-Nature. I see this in you.” I will look with a wise, compassionate gaze, so I will be able to hold up a mirror where others can see their ultimate nature reflected. I will remind people who feel worthless that they too are a precious wonder of life. I will water only the positive seeds in myself and others, so my thoughts, words, and actions can encourage confidence and self-acceptance in all of us, in our children, in our loved ones, and in everyone we meet. Inspired by the knowledge that everyone is Buddha, I will practice your way of patience and inclusiveness so I can liberate myself from ignorance and misunderstanding, and offer freedom, peace, and joy to myself, to others, to our society, and to all species.

The Example of Kshitigarbha

I look to your example, Kshitigarbha. I aspire to learn your way of being present when and where there is darkness, suffering, oppression, and despair so I can bring light, hope, relief, and liberation to those places. I am determined not to forget or abandon those in desperate situations. I will do my best to establish contact with those who cannot find a way out of their suffering, those whose cries for help, justice, equality, and human rights are not being heard. I know hell can be found in many places on earth. I will do my best not to contribute to the creation of more hells on Earth. I will help to transform the hells that already exist. I will practice in order to realize the qualities of perseverance, so like the Earth, I can always be supportive and faithful to those in need.

The Example of Samantabadhra

I look to your example, Samantabadhra. I aspire to practice your vow to act with eyes and heart of compassion, to bring joy to one person in the morning and to one person in the afternoon. I know the happiness of others is my own happiness. I aspire to practice joy on the path of service. I know every word, every look, every action, and every smile can bring happiness to others. I know if I practice wholeheartedly, I can become an inexhaustible source of peace and joy for my loved ones, for all humanity, and for all species.

The Example of Manjushri

I look to your example, Manjushri. I aspire to learn your way, which is to be still and look deeply into the heart of things and into the heart of people. I will look with all my attention and open-heartedness. I will look with unprejudiced eyes. I will look without judging and reacting. I will look so deeply that I will be able to see and understand the roots of suffering, stress, and anxiety; the impermanent and selfless nature of all that is. I will practice your way of using the sword of understanding to cut through the bonds of suffering, stress, and anxiety thus freeing myself and all other species.

The Example of Avalokiteshvara

I look to your example, Avalokiteshvara. I aspire to learn your way of listening in order to help relieve the suffering, the stress, and the anxiety in the world. You know how to listen in order to understand. I look to your example in order to practice listening with all my attention and openheartedness. I will sit and listen without prejudice. I will sit and listen without judging. I will sit and listen in order to understand. I will sit and listen so attentively that I will be able to hear what the other person is saying and what is being left unsaid. I know just by listening deeply I already alleviate a great deal of pain and stress in the other person.

Removal of Obstacles Recitation

May all obstacles be averted; may they be no more; may they be pacified.

Tradition says you clap your hands as you repeat each of the three phrases.

Awareness and Mindfulness

There is nothing that does not grow light through habit and familiarity. Putting up with little cares, I'll train myself to bear them. I'll look at how I respond to situations—the words I use, my tone of voice, the look on my face; how I carry myself, all of the little things I do from moment to moment that reflect my emotions and mental state. I'll pay attention to my thoughts, words, and deeds. Whatever I'm doing, I'll maintain awareness and mindfulness.

---Lojong Meditation---

An Opportunity to Awaken

The world is imperfect and will remain that way. I cannot change this but will see it as an opportunity to awaken. I cannot control events, but I can change my attitude towards them. I will develop the wisdom not to assume that my initial responses are always true and correct.

---Lojong Practice---

The Bodhisattva Vows

All Beings, one body,
     I vow to liberate.

Endless blind passions,
     I vow to uproot.

Dharma gates without number,
     I vow to penetrate.

The Great Way of Buddha,
     I vow to attain.

Eight Winds Meditation

This meditation is performed at the end of the day. Find a quiet place and ask yourself these eight questions. Don't judge your answers, simply hold onto your resolution to act more positively tomorrow.









Have I expressed kindness to at least one person today?

Have I tried to relieve one person's stress today?

Have I told someone, "I love you?"

Have I told someone I was happy for them?

Have I spent too much time trying to get something I wanted?

Have I avoided any unpleasant experiences or people?

Have I sought recognition for myself in any way?

Have I tried to shift blame to someone for my actions?


Taking time at the end of each day to consider these questions is a good way to engage the Buddha's Teaching in your life and to live by the principles of those Teachings.

Evening Introspection

Take 3 to 5 breaths, then allow your body to return to the natural rhythm of its breathing. Then, concentrate on each phrase as you exhale. Do not concentrate on the inhale, only on the exhale. Concentrate on each phrase for a cycle of 5 to 10 breaths. End the introspection with 3 to 5 deeps breaths.







Am I thinking more of myself than others?

Am I less or more irritated by others and the things that happen around me?

Do I spend too much time pondering others and their weaknesses?

Am I holding any grudges?

Do I wait in ambush for others?

Have I brought things to a painful point?

Have I shown kindness and compassion to someone?

Have I said "I love you" to someone?

For what am I grateful for today?

Morning Dedication

This recitation should be repeated slowly 3 times so at least one of them will be recited mindfully and intentionally.







I have wasted enough time. Why waste any more time?
Today I will do something constructive and beneficial
with my time instead of squandering it on meaningless
activities.

My life could easily have been different. I might have
died in infancy, be suffering grinding poverty, or be
experiencing any of the things that are anathema to
pursuing a life of love, kindness, and compassion. I
am truly fortunate indeed.

If even mountains are subject to change and dissolution,
how much more so is my body which is sometimes
susceptible to disease, breakdown, the elements,
accidents, and all kinds of harm? I must utilize the
opportunities of today before the chance is lost forever.

The Three Refuges

I take refuge in the Buddha,
the one who shows me the way in this life.
I take refuge in the Dharma,
the way of understanding and of love.
I take refuge in the Sangha,
the community that lives in harmony and awareness.
[Bell]

Dwelling in the refuge of Buddha,
I clearly see the path of light and beauty in the world.
Dwelling in the refuge of Dharma,
I learn to open many doors on the path of transformation.
Dwelling in the refuge of Sangha,
shining light that supports me, keeping my practice free of obstruction.
[Bell]

Taking refuge in the Buddha in myself,
I aspire to help all people recognize their own awakened nature,
realizing the Mind of Love.
Taking refuge in the Dharma in myself,
I aspire to help all people fully master the ways of practice
and walk together on the path of liberation.
Taking refuge in the Sangha in myself,
I aspire to help all people build Fourfold Communities*,
to embrace all beings and support their transformation.
[Bell, Bell]


*Monks, Nuns, Laymen, and Laywomen 

A Daily Practice

Morning Aspiration:

Today I will do my best;
        to respect and protect life,
        to respect and protect the property of others,
        to respect and protect sexual boundaries,
        to respect and protect honesty and the use of language,
        and to respect and protect my body and my mind.



Evening Examination:

How did I do today in;
        my respecting and protecting life,
        my respecting and protecting the property of others,
        my respecting and protecting sexual boundaries,
        my respecting and protecting honesty and the use of language,
        my respecting and protecting my body and my mind.

A Morning Dedication

I have wasted enough time. Why waste any more time? Today I will do something constructive and beneficial with my time instead of squandering it on meaningless activities.

My life could easily have been different. I might have died in infancy, be suffering grinding poverty, or be experiencing any of the things that are anathema to pursuing a life of love, kindness, and compassion. I am truly fortunate indeed.

If even mountains are subject to change and dissolution, how much more so is my body which is sometimes susceptible to disease, breakdown, the elements, accidents, and all kinds of harm? I must utilize the opportunities of today before the chance is lost forever.

Note: This dedication should be recited 3 times so at least one of them will be recited mindfully.